image by: HWN

HWN Suggests

The Hubbub Over Hyaluronic Acid, From Serums to Facial Fillers

Hyaluronic acid was actually first discovered in 1934, when two German biochemists first isolated the compound from the vitreous body of a cow’s eye (today, thanks to the latest and greatest biotechnology methods, safer, purer, and more consistent hyaluronic acid can be produced without resorting to animal tissue extracts). While it had been used by athletes to help speed up recovery from sprained ankles and other joint problems, it didn’t become a popular ingredient used in the cosmetics industry until the late ’90s. This was largely a result of an ABC documentary that looked at the residents of Yuzurihara, Japan, reporting that much of the populace over the age of 85 looked far younger, had…

read full article

Featured

 Why Hyaluronic Acid Fillers Are Still on the Rise—and What’s Shaping Their Future

Hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers have become a cornerstone of modern aesthetic medicine—and their popularity shows no signs of slowing. Once considered a niche cosmetic option, injectable fillers are now widely embraced by patients seeking subtle, non-surgical ways to restore volume, soften lines, and maintain facial balance over time. Behind this continued growth is a mix of evolving patient preferences, advances in injectable technology, and a broader cultural shift toward preventative and personalized aesthetics. At the same time, important factors—from cost considerations to provider expertise—continue to shape how and where these treatments are performed.

Articles of Interest

What to Know About Filler in 2025

You may have heard that we’re in an era of filler fatigue—and honestly, it’s not hard to see how we got here. From puffy cheeks to ballooning lips, we’ve all seen what happens when filler falls into the hands of an unskilled injector. But here’s the twist: For many, the fatigue is less about an opposition to getting filler in general and more about an aversion to the classic “pillow face” appearance that overfilling can cause.

Comparing Juvéderm and Restylane: Is One Dermal Filler Better?

While the two fillers share similarities, they also have their differences. Learn more about these, as well as the costs and expected results, so you know which hyaluronic-based dermal filler is best for you.

Evaluating hyaluronic acid dermal fillers: A critique of current characterization methods

Soft‐tissue augmentation has gained much popularity in recent years. Hyaluronic acid (HA) based dermal fillers; a non‐permanent injectable device, can restore volume loss, fill fine lines and wrinkles and add curves and contours. HA based dermal fillers entered the non‐surgical treatment market in the late 1990s, however there is a lack of data and literature comparing the range of products and detailing the complexities of these products and how it relates to tissue performance.

Hyaluronic Acid Filler Longevity in the Mid-face: A Review of 33 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies

HA fillers remained detectable for at least 2 years in all 33 patients, with one patient showing filler longevity of up to 15 years. These findings suggest significant implications for filler management practices. Further research with larger cohorts and ongoing imaging follow-up is warranted to fully understand HA filler longevity and optimize clinical protocols.

Hyaluronic acid fillers: history and overview

Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers have many favorable characteristics that make it a popular injectable filler device. Its minimal immunogenicity and relative ease of use has helped HA become the most commonly used injectable filler today.

I Tried At-Home Fillers, And The Results May Surprise You

And the science is legit: The benefit to using an over-the-counter version is for real, “Hyaluronic acid has the ability to hold water and pump water to different areas. It’s a great hydrator for the skin, so it’s definitely going to give superficial plumping and hydration to help with fine lines. It’s totally legit,” says Engelman. “And with today’s newest skincare innovations there are better delivery systems like microencapsulating it or nano gold technology, which helps drive it deeper into the skin than at-home versions have gone before, for longer-lasting results.” But for more dramatic lift and volume, injectables still rule.

Lip Injections: 9 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Filler

Gone are the days when women had only collagen as an option. In its place, a variety of dermal fillers have emerged that are based on hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in our bodies and is highly attracted to water and binds to moisture. Not to mention, the substance is pretty resistant to lumps and bumps—I felt a few right after, but they quickly evened out.

Most Common Myths About Hyaluronic Acid Fillers (And Why They’re Not True)

Hyaluronic acid fillers are among the most popular non-surgical treatments for facial rejuvenation, lip enhancement, wrinkle reduction, and contour correction. Despite their proven effectiveness and safety, these treatments are still surrounded by myths and misconceptions that often prevent people from experiencing their full benefits.

The hidden health risks of lip fillers

Today, most lip fillers are made from hyaluronic acid (HA) – a substance that naturally exists in our bodies, particularly in connective tissue. HA attracts water, giving the skin volume and keeping it hydrated. As we age, our natural levels of HA decrease, which is why skin becomes drier and loses firmness. The HA used in fillers is either extracted from animal tissue, such as rooster combs, or produced synthetically using bacteria. While this modern version is safer than older fillers, it still carries risks including allergic reactions, reactivation of cold sores (herpes simplex virus), infections and inflammation.

The Science Behind Hyaluronic Acid Fillers – A Closer Look at Bio-Integration

Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers have revolutionized the field of aesthetic medicine, offering a minimally invasive way to restore volume, smooth wrinkles, and enhance facial contours. These fillers are designed with various properties, from particle size to cross-linking processes, that affect their performance and bio-integration.

The Science of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Dermal fillers have been used for facial rejuvenation for over 20 years. Restylane® was the first HA filler to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003, and was initially marketed to address deep wrinkles and folds and later for lip enhancement. Since that time, a wide array of products have come onto the market, with various characteristics and marketed for different indications. These products are differentiated by physicochemical properties that can predict how they will behave in vivo.

Use of hyaluronic acid fillers for the treatment of the aging face

Currently, physicians have a choice of only a handful of HA fillers available for use for these patients. Most of our patients are familiar with Restylane® and it is currently the treatment of choice for most patients. Skilled injectors will offer patients either Restylane® or one of the Juvaderm™ products, and it would be up to the injector to determine which of the HA fillers they feel most comfortable injecting.

What You Need to Know Before Getting Lip Filler

While lip filler injections can be a beneficial tool to add or restore volume, improve facial symmetry, and enhance the size and shape of the lips, their pervasiveness is a sensitive topic. From the rise of overfilled pouts to the danger of botched jobs, there’s plenty of reason to exercise caution and have reservations around lip augmentation—especially in the age of social media, where unrealistic aesthetic standards abound.

When filler removal goes wrong: ‘My lips and cheeks caved in’

The trend for ‘duck lips’ is over and many people are seeking to reverse their cosmetic treatments – often with painful and disfiguring results

Why Harper’s Bazaar is Wrong About Hyaluronic Acid

I think the overall lesson here though is that that we shouldn’t allow someone to solely use their title to tell us they’re right. We need to insist that the information we’re given is grounded in science. If we insist that those we follow prove their arguments and hold them accountable, it better serves us and the skincare industry as a whole.